Transition
Taking stock, in every way
As the world’s no. 1 winter sports resort*, we have a huge responsibility, but before taking action, it is crucial to understand what is at stake with all the necessary hindsight, sharing of experience and humility. * 2,664,653 ski days sold over the winter season 23-24
Giving things meaning and setting the course
CSR report, carbon footprint & snow monitoring
Ce sont deux démarches complémentaires qui se veulent des "photographies" de l'existant. Des supports fondateurs pour fixer le cap et décider des actions qui impacteront l'avenir de La Plagne et la préservation de ses écosystèmes naturel, économique et social.
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CSR* resort report *Corporate Social Responsibility |
GHG balance at the territorial level |
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The ski area and the climate issues
Nicolas Provendie, the general manager of the Société d'Aménagement de La Plagne
Research studies on our mountain area
La Plagne has been awarded the Flocon Vert label
Since June 2024, La Plagne is one of the 29 destinations with the Flocon Vert (Green Snowflake) label. Awarded for a period of 3 years, the Mountain Riders’ green snowflake is a positive first step in motivating the troops and continuing the resort’s strategy of sustainable development.
The audit highlighted several areas in which La Plagne has invested, such as employment with the creation of a resort-wide employer brand, accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities, waste management with the signing of the National Charter for Zero Waste on the Mountain by 2030, and renovation with the creation of the Maison des Propriétaires and the recruitment of a housing officer.
Aware of the necessary areas for improvement, the roadmap is being written and will continue to be written in favour of the transition. The themes of waste, mobility, renovation and energy are at the top of the list.
A new era off the glacier
After taking note of the evidence of climate change on its glacier and, proud as it is of the part of its ski area that is 3250 m above sea level, La Plagne has had to resign itself to envisaging the future differently. The redevelopment aimed to leave the zone of permafrost of the glacier and move the gondola arrival station to another high-altitude peak (3 000 m), Live 3000, located further south. The goal is to offer an easier long-term access to this sector from the winter season 2023-24, with a 360° panoramic view in both summer and winter.
The benefits of this move:
- a rehabilitated glacier, with all the installations dismantled within 3 years
- easier to keep the lift open when there is heavy snowfall
- panoramic view of the Vanoise glaciers
- accessibility for skiers and the possibility for everyone to test the experience of being at 3000 m in winter and summer
In concrete terms:
- 1 lift instead of 4
- 9 hectares less of ski runs
- 35 pylons and poles taken down
- 630 m of ski lift cables removed
- 1 800 m of electric cables removed
- 9 buildings taken down
- 606 m² of built surface area
An ambitious project
This approach is part of a project to develop the line all the way from Plagne Bellecôte to the glacier by 2025. The new gondola up to Roche de Mio will be ready in December 2025.
Circular economy
In Plagne Centre / The first biomass heating plant in the mountains opened in 2009.
Initiated by one of the Plagne Centre owners’ associations along with Veolia Eau, this operation proved to offer a solution to the major issue of heating in a winter sports resort created in the 1960s. It produces 85% of the energy required for heating and hot water production in Plagne Centre and discharges 4,000 tonnes less of CO² into the atmosphere every year. The fuel comes in the form of wood chips made of bark from sawmills and fibre that cannot be recycled as compost. The long-term aim is to source forestry chips from local operators to help them complete their projects linked to the wood industry.
In Aime / Antropia, first recycling center in La Plagne, opened in April 2023
The principle of a recycling centre is to collect and put back into circulation what people no longer need, an approach that naturally supports the development of the circular economy on a local scale. In fact, through its network, Antropia collects a lot of skiwear (jackets, ski pants, etc.), from the different socio-professionals from all of the local resorts in particular. This ski wear, mostly by brand names and often nearly new, are rendered “neutral” by having any labels or other badges removed by partner association One Tree at a Time [onetreeatatime.fr].
Teen or adult outfits (from size XS, jacket + pants) from 160 €. Children’s skiwear also for sale.
Versant du Soleil, in Granier / Transformation of whey into methane for the first time in an Alpine pasture !
All year round, during the production of Beaufort cheese, a very cumbersome residue is created: whey, which in volume represents more than 90% of the milk produced.
The spreading of this by-product is prohibited. Various recycling solutions exist, but the Plan Pichu pastoral cooperative in Granier, on the Versant du Soleil, wanted to go further by thinking in terms of "recovery" whereby the waste is not simply recycled, but is transformed into energy. After an initial trial season in 2022, the transformation of whey into methane provides near autonomy for heating the water and milk since summer 2023.